Universal brick plating machine



Dec. 6, 1966 M. FOCHT UNIVERSAL BRICK PLATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 9, 1965 ENE-L.

DEM/:2

INVENTORZ ROBERT M. FOCHT /$W%W ATTYS.

1366- 1966 R. M. FOCHT UNIVERSAL BRICK PLATING MACHINE 6 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1963 INVENTORZ ROBERT M. FOCHT ATTYS 1366- 1966 R. M. FOCHT UNIVERSAL BRICK PLATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 9, 1963 ROB ERT M. FOCHT Dec. 6, 1966 FQCHT UNIVERSAL BRICK PLATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 9, 1965 INVENTORZ BY ROBERT M. FOCHT M Q V T 1 ATTYS R. M. FOCHT 3,290,200

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 UNIVERSAL BRICK PLATING MACHINE Dec. 6, 1966 Filed Aug. 9, 1963 1966 R. M. FOCHT UNIVERSAL BRICK PLATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 9, 1963 F IG- l9.

FIG- I5.

imml L77 INVENTOR. ROBERT M. FOCHT ATTYS.

United States Patent The present invention relates generally to apparatus for plating refractory bricks and more particularly to such apparatus which is adaptable for applying metal plates to refractory bricks of various sizes and shapes by means of a mastic adhesive.

A method of securing metal plate elements to refractory bricks by means of a mastic adhesive is disclosed in my copending application Serial Number 240,799, filed November 29, 1962 now Patent 3,261,738. Apparatus is also disclosed in said co-pending application for effecting a completely automatic plating operation. However, use of such apparatus is necessarily limited to bricks of a specific size and shape.

Refractory bricks are formedin a wide variety of shapes as required for lining arched furnaces, rotary kilns, and

other structures having curved or irregular surfaces.

I-Ieretofore, the plating of such irregularly-shaped bricks has been a slow and inefficient manual operation. In

View of the development of a mastic adhesive process for securingthe plates, adhesive application and assembly of the bricks and plates can be accomplished using the present apparatus with far greater speed in a more uniform, controlled manner than was possible with previous methods.

It is accordingly a first object of the present invention to provide a brick plating apparatus of a universal type which is adapted for plating refractory bricks of various sizes and shapes.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a universal brick plating apparatus which utilizes a heavy extrudable mastic adhesive to secure the plates to the bricks, the adhesive being applied in localized deposits and distributed over a substantial area of the brick and plate surfaces upon application of pressure biasing the plates against the bricks.

A further object of the invention is to provide a universal brick plating apparatus as described which is adapted to apply adhesive to the plates, position the plates with adhesive applied thereto in alignment with the bricks, 'and apply pressure to the plates and bricks to distribute the adhesive over the plate and brick surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a universal brick plating apparatus as described which will effect a uniform, controlled, and rapid plating of the bricks.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic front elevational view showing the pneumatic circuits incorporated in a plating apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2' is an end elevational view of the apparatus ing placement upon a first side plate asshown in FIG. 5;.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the manner in which the side Patented Dec. 6, 1966 plates are biased against abrick to distribute the mastic adhesive deposits;

FIG. 6ais an isometric view showing a brick with attached side plates following the operation shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is a view showing the manner in which a brick with side plates attached is placed on edge and aligned over an edge plate;

FIG. 7a is an isometric view showing a brick following attachment of the opposed side plates and one edge plate;

FIG. 8 is a view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a View taken along line 99 of FIG. 3;

FIG; 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the plate pusher tabs in the advanced position;

FIG. 11 is a view taken along line 1111 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a view taken along line 12--12 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a view taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 16 is a view taken along line 1616 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a view taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 18 is a view taken along line 18-18 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a view taken along line 19--19 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 17 but showing a modified brick stop bar mounting arrangement;

FIG. 21 is a view taken along line 21-21 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a view taken along line 2222 of FIG. 17; and

FIG. 23' is a view taken along line 2323 of FIG. 22.

Referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, the invention broadly includes a conveyor 10 having spaced conveyor rolls 12 for advancing bricks through successive plating steps. The conveyor is preferably mounted at waist height to facilitate handling of the bricks. Extending transversely from the conveyor are three plate stations, 14a, 12 and c for respectively applying adhesive to and advancing onto the conveyor a first side plate, a second side plate', and an edge plate. The operation of the apparatus in brief includes the feed-ing of plates to the plate stations through which the plates are intermittently advanced by plate advance mechanisms 16a, 16b and 160, passed under .a 'battery of mastic adhesive applying guns and moved onto the conveyor. Bricks are placed on" the adhesive-bearing plates, each brick being placed initially on a first side plate, inverted for placement on a second side plate, and then placed in the pneumatic press generally designated 22 to distribute themastic adhesive between the brick and plate surfaces. Each brick is advanced on the conveyor and placed on edge upon the adhesive-bearing edge plate and then advanced to the pneumatic press 24 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by means of whichthe edge plate adhesive .stood.

Inasmuch as the structure of the three plate stations is practically identical, a detailed description of one station, 14a, -is presented, the equivalent elements of plate stations 14b and 14c being providedwith identifying numbers bearing the" appropriate suffixed letters b orc.

advancing means includes frame angles 28a on which are fastened wear plates 30a to providea smooth surface upon which the plates are advanced from the rear of the machine to the conveyor at the frontof the machine.

Extending along the angles 28a: beneath" the wear plates 30a are bar magnets 32a which extend substantially the entire length of the plate station. The magnets prevent tr-ansverse movement of the plates during advancement and. maintain the plates in engagement with the wear plates to insure positive action of the plate advancing means as will be presently described.

The plate advance mechanism 16a includes guide shafts 34a extending in spaced parallel relation between and below the frame angles 28a. Slide bars 36a are slidably disposed between the guide shafts and the frame angles by means of front and rear guide bars 38a and 40a extending transversely therebetween which are bored to receive and bear on the guide shafts 34a.

Mounted on the slide bars are forward, intermediate, and rear pairs of plate pusher tabs 42a, 44a and 46a. As shown in FIG. 14, each pusher tab includes a tab arm 48 pivotally secured to the slide bar at 50. A spring loaded plunger pin 52 acts against the tab arm 48 to urge the arm into the raised position. The tab arm is shaped with a beveled back face 54 to permit the pusher tab to return beneath an advanced plate on the return stroke of the mechanism.

The pusher tabs are actuated by pneumatic cylinder 56a bolted to the frame at the rear of the apparatus by bolts 58a. The shaft 60a of the cylinder is attached to cylinder bar 62a which is secured to the slide bars 36a. Actuation of the cylinder 56a thus advances the pusher tabs from the retracted position shown in FIG. 8 to the advanced position shown in FIG. and in broken lines in FIG. 8.

Referring to the pneumatic circuits shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, air under pressure is supplied to the main air line 64 and passes through a filter, pressure regulator and preferably a corrosion-preventing lubricant mist device prior to admission to the pneumatic cylinders. Air flow int-o the plate advancing cylinders 56a, 56b and 560, as schematically indicated is controlled by solenoid valves.

,As shown in FIG. 9, limit switch 66a supported on I bracket 68a attached to a rear frame member is closed by the weight of a plate placed on the wear plates in position A, the plate closing the switch by means of the spring loaded plunger 70a. The plates in order to actuate the limit switch must be adjacent the positioning plate 72a which serves to initially align the plates. Closing of the limit switch 66a actuates the solenoid valve 74a allowing air to flow into the cylinder and advancing the pusher tabs and the plates engaged thereby. The plates are advanced by the pusher tabs to four positions, the initial position A described above, a second position B which is the adhesive applying position, a third position C adjacent the conveyor, and a final position D on the conveyor. As the cylinder stroke is completed, a trip plate 76a projecting below one of the slide bars 36a ooacts with limit switch 78a as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The limit switch 78a upon closure 'by such contact energizes solenoid valve 80a to reverse the cylinder and return the pusher tabs to their initial position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The tabs pass readily under the advanced plates, the tab arms 48 retracting below the plates with the beveled faces 54 of the tab arms acting as camming surfaces as the arms depress the spring loaded plunger pins 52. As shown in FIG. 8, the tabs in the initial position are received in slots 81a of the positioning plate 72a to permit the alignment of plates with the forward edge of the positioning plate.

The means for applying mastic adhesive to the plates is essentially the same for each of the three plate stations although there are differences in the positions and numbers of adhesive applying guns in accordance with the size and shape of the plates. Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 8, the adhesive applying means include vertical support members 82a and 83a extending above the frame 26 and joined by horizontal cover plate 84a and spacer rods 86a and 88a. Adjustable mounting brackets 90a on the forward spacer rod 86a provide adjustable mounting of adhesive spray guns 92a on horizontal bar supports 94a.

The adhesive applying guns are actuated by an air operated control valve. The mastic adhesive is applied by the force of its own pressure such that air is not introduced into the adhesive. The air controlling the guns and the adhesive are delivered to the guns by means of a manifold 96a mounted on the cover plate 84a. The manifold 96a includes a lower manifold bore 98a from which extend transverse distribution ports 100a to which are connected flexible adhesive conduits 102a which are connected withthe adhesive inlets 104a of the adhesive applying guns 92a. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the adhesive is supplied to the manifolds under pressure through man adhesive conduit 106 and connector conduits 108.

An upper manifold bore 110a receives compressed air for actuating the adhesive guns which is passed through distribution ports 112a, manual shutoff valves 114a, and conduits 116a to the guns 9211. As shown in FIG. 4, each manifold is provided with a solenoid operated air valve 117 connected by a conduit 118 to a pressurized air supply. Each air valve is connected to the upper manifold bore by conduit 120. The solenoid 122a of the air valve 117a is energized by closure of the limit switch 78a upon completion of a stroke of the plate advance mechanism.

Adjustable slides 124a on spacer rod 88a support downwardly extending arms 126a. to which are secured curved guides 128a. The guides 128a permit a rapid transverse positioning of the plates into position A on introduction to the machine. The guides may be positioned to adapt to plates of various sizes by adjustment of the slides 124a along the spacer rod 8811.

As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the plate advance mechanism advances the plates to a predetermined position D on the conveyor. To facilitate the placement of bricks upon the plates, guides 130a and 1300 attached to the frame 26 are disposed to align the inner brick edges with the inner plate edges. Adjustable guide members 132a .andl32c may be set to align the ends of the bricks with the ends of the plates in the manner shown in FIGS. 5 and 7.

In order to maintain the position of the plates during placement of the bricks thereupon, bar magnets 134 may be substituted for several of the conveyor rolls 12. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the bar magnets extend substantially the width of the conveyor and are mounted flush with the remaining conveyor rolls 12 'by means of mounting bracket 136 extending between the conveyor frame members.

Mounted over the conveyor 10 above position D of the second side plate is adhesive distributing pneumatic press 22, secured to the frame 26 by supports 138 as shown in FIG. 15. Referring to FIG. 3, the press 22 includes rectangular frame 140 which is adjustably mounted between supports 138 by bolts 142 coacting with elongated horizontal slots 144 in the supports. The press elements are thus adjustable transversely of the conveyor. Horizontal tracks 146 on the supports 138 coact with grooves 148 of the frame 140, preventing rotation of the frame about the bolts 142.

Pneumatic cylinder 150 mounted on frame 140 is connected with press plate 152 by means of self-aligning toggle assembly 154 as shown in FIG. 16. Guide vane 156 connected to the toggle assembly prevents rotation of the press plate 152. The pneumatic cylinder 150 is actuated by manual air valve 158 on frame 140. As shown in FIG. 1, a timer 160 maintains the cylinder in the press position for a predetermined period, automatically returning the cylinder to the raised rest position following the press period.

The pneumatic press 24 for distributing the edge plate adhesive as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 includes a pneumatic cylinder 162 secured to the frame 26 by mounting plate 164. As shown in detail in FIGS. 22 and 23, adusting plate 166 on the cylinder may be selectively positioned with respect to the mounting plate 164 by means .5 'of vertical slots 16 8 and 170 respectively in the mounting plate 164 and adjusting plate 166, and bolts 172 and 174 coacting therewith. The cylinder 162 is linked with press plate 176 by means of self-aligning toggle linkage 178.

Brick stop bars 180 as shown in FIG. 19 are adjustably mounted on transverse bars 182 replacing conveyor rolls adjacent the press 24. The transverse bars include T-slots 184 within which are disposed the heads of bolts 186 which secure the stop bars 180. The transverse bars 182 are preferably spaced in the manner shown in FIG. 18, and the stop bars 180 may be positioned as desired to adapt to bricks of varying shapes.

A modified brick stop arrangement is hown in FIGS. 20 and 21 in which a stationary plate 186 is pivotally disposed on mounting bar 188 supported by mounting blocks 190 adjustably secured to transverse bars 182 by bolts 192. The stationary plate 186 of the modified embodiment may be pivoted from the vertical position illustrated to adapt to bricks having beveled edge faces.

As shown in FIG. 1, a manual air valve 194 controls the pneumatic cyclinder 162, and a timer 196 holds the cylinder in the press position for a predetermined interval after which the cylinder is automatically returned to the initial retracted position.

The operation of the apparatus will be described with respect to a brick 197 of the shape shown, for example, in FIG. a which is to be plated on the parallel side faces and one edge face. Referring to FIG. 3, side plates 198 and 200 and edge plates 202 are successively fed into position A at the rear of the respective plate stations 14a, 14b and 14c. The plates when properly positioned in position A close limit switches 66a, b, and 0, thus energizing the solenoid valves 74a, b, and c, to actuate the respective plate advance mechanisms. The plates are engaged by the plate pusher tabs and are advanced to position B beneath the adhesive applying guns. The plates reach position B as the stroke of the plate advance mechanism is completed, closing limit switch 78 thus energizing the solenoid of the air valve controlling the adhesive guns. As shown in FIG. 3, the guns are arranged to provide spaced localized adhesive deposits 204 on the plates.

During application of adhesive, the plate advance mechanism is returned to its initial position and upon placement of an additional plate in position A, again advances, moving the plate previously in position B into position C adjacent the conveyor. On the following cycle of the plate advance mechanism, the plate is moved from position C to position D on the conveyor. The plate advance mechanism will thus automatically move through a plate advance cycle upon placement of a plate in position A. As shown in FIG. 3, the three plate stations intermittently supply adhesive bearing plates to the conveyor for assembly with the bricks.

For assembly, each brick is placed on a first side plate 198, using guide 130a and guide member 132a to facilitate alignment of the brick over the plate. The bar magnets 134 maintain the plate in the proper position during this assembly step.

The mastic adhesive deposits adhere the side plate to the brick as shown in FIG. 5a, and the brick with attached plate is inverted and moved along the conveyor to the second plate station where it is placed upon the second side'plate 200. The brick with opposed side faces attached by the local mastic adhesive deposits is disposed beneath the pneumatic press 22, and the press is manually actuated by means of air valve 158, pressing the side plates against the brick to distribute the mastic adhesive as shown in FIG. 6.

Following this pressing operation, the brick as shown in FIG. 6a with the opposed side plates secured is advanced along the conveyor to the third plate station where it is placed on edge as shown in FIG. 7 and aligned over edge plate 202 by means of guide 1300 and guide member 132C. The brick with the edge plate adhering thereto as shown in FIG. 7a is then advanced along the conveyor to pneumatic press 24 which isactuated by means of manual air valve 194 to press the edge plate against the brick and distribute the mastic adhesive deposits therebetween. As shown in FIG. 18, the brick stop bars 180 are appropriately positioned so as to present the brick edge with the adhered edge plate in substantially parallel relation with the press plate 176 of the press 24. The self-aligning toggles of the pneumatic presses 22 and 24 provide a uniform adhesivedistributing pressure upon the plates despite non-parallel relationships of the plates and the press plates.

The bricks following the second press operation may then be placed on pallets and packed for shipping. The distributed mastic adhesive provides an immediate adherence of the plates which is sufficient to withstand normal handling procedures, although care should be taken to prevent movement of the plates on the bricks during such further handling.

Although the embodiment illustrated would normally require the services of two men, one to assemble the bricks with the plates and a second to feed the plates into the plate stations, an arrangement couldreadily be devised to feed the plates automatically into the plate stations.

Although three plate stations are shown in the present embodiment, it is obvious that any desired number of plate stations could be employed to suit particular brick plating requirements.

Manifestly, changes in details of construction can be effected by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in and limited solely by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

.1. Apparatus for applying plates to refractory bricks comprising a frame, a horizontal conveyor on said frame, a plurality of plate stations extending transversely on said frame from said conveyor and having horizontal surfaces along which plates may be advanced through said plate stations to said conveyor, a plate advance mechanism in each of said plate stations for intermittently advancing plates through said plate stations and onto said conveyor, each said plate advance mechanism comprising a pneumatic cylinder secured to said frame, each said pneumatic cylinder being operatively connected to a plurality of plate pusher tabs supported for horizontal movement through said plate stations and adapted to advance plates thereacross on the forward stroke of said pneumatic cylinder and to retract beneath the plane of the plates on the return stroke of the cylinder, means in said plate stations for applying a mastic adhesive in special local deposits to the plates including a plurality of adhesive applying guns mounted in spaced disposition adjacent said plate advance mechanisms, means for actuating said adhesive applying guns upon positioning of plates therebeneath by said plate advance mechanisms, means on said conveyor for aligning bricks on the plates upon assembly thereof, and press means on said conveyor for biasing the plates against the bricks thereby distributing the mastic adhesive in a substanially uniform manner between the brick and plate surfaces.

. 2. Apparatus for applying plates to refractory bricks comprising a frame, a horizontal conveyor secured to said frame, a plurality of plate stations extending transversely from said conveyor having horizontal surfaces along which plates may be advanced through said plate stations, said horizontal surfaces including wear plates secured to said frame extending along the paths of plate travel through the plate stations, a plate advance mechanism in each of said plate stations for intermittently advancing plates through said plate stations and onto said conveyor, each said plate advance mechanism comprising a said guide shafts slidably supported by guide bars extending transversely therebetween bearing on said guide shafts, plate pusher tabs mounted on said slide bars, and means. operatively connecting said slide bars with said pneumatic cylinder for reciprocation thereby, said pusher tabs adapted to extend above the plane of said wear plates to engage and advance plates thereacross on the forward stroke of said pneumatic cylinder and to retract beneath the plane of the plates of the return stroke of the cylinder,

means in said plate stations for applying a mastic adhesive in spaced local deposits to the plates including a plurality of adhesive applying guns mounted in spaced disposition adjacent said plate advance mechanisms, means for actuating said adhesive-applying guns upon positioning of plates therebeneath by said plate advance mechanisms, means on said conveyor for aligning bricks on the plates upon assembly thereof, and press means on said conveyor for biasing the plates against the bricks thereby distributing the mastic adhesive in a substantially uniform manner between the brick and plate surfaces.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein each said plate pusher tab comprises a tab arm pivotally secured to a slide bar, a spring loaded plunger pin on the slide bar acting against said tab arm to urge the tab arm into the raised position, said tab arm having a beveled back face which acts as a camming surface to depress the tab arm against the spring-loaded pusher pin upon return of the pusher tab beneath an advanced plate.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said plate pusher tabs are positioned at spaced intervals along said slide bars, said intervals being smaller than the stroke of said pneumatic cylinder whereby the plates are engaged by successive ones of said pusher tabs and intermittently advanced into successive positions in the plate station.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein a first of said successive positions constitutes a plate receiving position, and means responsive to the positioning of a plate in said position for actuating said pneumatic cylinder to advance said pusher tabs.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein one of said successive positions constitutes an adhesive applying position, a plate in such position being positioned beneath said adhesive applying guns.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 including means responsive to the completion of a plate advancing stroke of said pneumatic cylinder for reversing said cylinder and returning said pusher tabs to engage succeeding plates.

8. Apparatus as claimed in'claim 7 including means responsive to the completion of a plate advancing stroke '8 of said pneumatic cylinder for actuating said adhesive applying guns to apply adhesive to a plate in the adhesive applying position.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for applying a mastic adhesive includes in each plate station a plurality of pneumatically actuated adhesive applying guns, a manifold having a lower manifold bore for distributing adhesive under pressure to said guns, and an upper manifold bore for distributing compressed air to actuate said guns, conduit means for passage of adhesive under pressure from the lower manifold bore to said guns, conduit means for passage of compressed air from the upper manifold bore to said guns, and valve means controlling the flow of compressed air to the upper manifold bore and thus to said guns, said valve means being actuated by means responsive to completion of a plate advancing stroke of said pneumatic cylinder.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means on said conveyor for aligning bricks on the plates upon assembly thereof comprises guides secured to said frame extending above said conveyor to facilitate positioning of bricks over plates advanced onto said conveyor by said plate advance mechanisms, and magnets in said conveyor beneath said guides to hold the plates in position during placement of bricks thereupon.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said press means on said conveyor for biasing the plates against the bricks comprises at least one pneumatic cylinder press on said conveyor and means for manually actuating said press upon positioning of bricks with adhesive-bearing plates attached thereto on said conveyor at said press, whereby actuation of said press biases the plates against the bricks to distribute the mastic adhesive therebetween.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said pneumatic cylinder press includes a pneumatic cylinder secured to said frame, a press plate, and a self-aligning toggle assembly connecting said press plate with said pneumatic cylinder to insure a uniform adhesive-distributing pressure on the plates and bricks upon operation of the press.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,067,805 12/1962 Flynn 156-556 X 3,095,344 6/1963 Sandow 156-566 3,140,972 7/1964 Kortick l56-566 EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner.

HAROLD ANSHER, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR APPLYING PLATES TO REFRACTORY BRICKS COMPRISING A FRAME, A HORIZONTAL CONVEYOR ON SAID FRAME, A PLURALITY OF PLATE STATIONS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ON SAID FRAME FROM SAID CONVEYOR AND HAVING HORIZONTAL SURFACES ALONG WHICH PLATES MAY BE ADVANCED THROUGH SAID PLATE STATIONS TO SAID CONVEYOR, A PLATE ADVANCE MECHANISM IN EACH OF SAID PLATE STATIONS FOR INTERMITTENTLY ADVANCING PLATES THROUGH SAID PLATE STATIONS AND ONTO SAID CONVEYOR, EACH SAID PLATE ADVANCE MECHANISM COMPRISING A PNEUMATIC CYLINDER SECURED TO SAID FRAME, EACH SAID PNEUMATIC CYLINDER BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO A PLURALITY OF PLATE PUSHER TABS SUPPORTED FOR HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT THROUGH SAID PLATE STATIONS AND ADAPTED TO ADVANCE PLATES THEREACROSS ON THE FORWARD STROKE OF SAID PNEUMATIC CYLINDER AND TO RETRACT BENEATH THE PLANE OF THE PLATES ON THE RETURN STROKE OF THE CYLINDER, MEANS IN SAID PLATE STATIONS FOR APPLYING A MASTIC ADHESIVE IN SPECIAL LOCAL DEPOSITS TO THE PLATES INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ADHESIVE APPLYING GUNS MOUNTED IN SPACED DISPOSITION ADJACENT SAID PLATE ADVANCE MECHANISMS, MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID ADHESIVE APPLYING GUNS UPON POSITIONING OF PLATES THEREBENEATH BY SAID PLATE ADVANCE MECHANISM MEANS ON SAID CONVEYOR FOR ALIGNING BRICKS ON THE PLATES UPON ASSEMBLY THEREOF, AND PRESS MEANS ON SAID CONVEYOR FOR BIASING THE PLATES AGAINST THE BRICKS THEREBY DISTRIBUTING THE MASTIC ADHESIVE IN A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM MANNER BETWEEN THE BRICK AND PLATE SURFACES. 